Montana’s wolf rules just got a shakeup. On Thursday, KPAX reported that the state Fish and Wildlife Commission bumped the overall harvest quota from 334 to 458 wolves—a 37% increase—while scrapping most of the old region-by-region caps. The only exceptions are a 60-wolf quota in Region 3 (southwest Montana) and tight limits of three each in the Yellowstone-bordering units 313 and 316. Last season, hunters and trappers harvested 297 wolves, but FWP officials say they’re aiming for a steeper population decline.
The commission also sweetened the deal for wolf hunters and trappers by raising personal tag limits from 10 to 15 each, meaning one person could legally take up to 30 wolves in a year. The catch is that five of those hunted and five of those trapped would need to come from the wolf-heavy northwest. Other updates include requiring hunters to turn in hides and skulls they don’t want, folding in night hunting with thermal imagery, and tightening reporting rules. With the changes sparking heated testimony from both wolf advocates and hunting supporters, one thing is clear: Montana’s wolf debate isn’t cooling down anytime soon!
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